Blood on the Pavement: White Supremacy Guides our Response to the Shooting of Megan Thee Stallion

At the current height of her career, Megan Thee Stallion has to relive ongoing trauma.

A month ago, rapper Tory Lanz (Daystar Peterson) shot Meg twice, once in each foot, in a blatant attempt to take away her ability to do her trademark twerks. Her fans and the American public were able to see Meg limping from the vehicle they were exiting a Hollywood party from; her leaving a trail of blood on the pavement, police firearms trained on her, ignoring her distress and ready to end her young, promising life.

Since that terrible night, the Internet has provided extensive commentary. I’ve read excellent takes on #blacktwitter on how Meg shows Black women are vulnerable and disrespected, no matter their wealth and status. I’ve read Black men making an utter ass of themselves, asking what an unarmed woman did to have a small, small man attack her with a deadly weapon. I’ve read various permutations of the G-Code and how Meg whether was right or wrong about not pressing charges or, as of today’s writing, going on Instagram live and admitting that Peterson was the one that shot her. We cannot put this incident behind us. Truly, the one in front of the gun lives forever.